Brazil`s football federation (CBF) has officially confirmed that Carlo Ancelotti will become the new head coach of the national team. The widely anticipated move will see the Italian manager depart Real Madrid at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
The CBF announced on Monday that Ancelotti, described as a legend and one of football`s most successful managers, will formally begin his role on May 26, 2025. He is set to take charge ahead of Brazil`s FIFA World Cup qualifying matches scheduled for June.
This appointment marks a historic milestone as Ancelotti becomes the first foreign manager in the history of the Selecao. The federation highlighted this landmark moment as the coming together of two icons: Brazil, the only five-time World Cup champions, and Ancelotti, a coach with an unparalleled record across Europe`s elite club competitions.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid is anticipated to appoint Xabi Alonso as Ancelotti`s successor, with Alonso set to leave Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso is expected to start at Real Madrid after the La Liga season ends, coinciding with Ancelotti`s transition to his first national team job with Brazil, ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June 2025.
Ancelotti has already finalized his contract with Brazil. Reports indicate the deal is for one year, lasting until the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Negotiations, reportedly facilitated by businessman Diego Fernandes, were not always smooth and were even reported to have nearly collapsed before the agreement was reached.
This announcement follows a challenging recent period for Real Madrid, who were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal, lost the Copa del Rey final 3-2 to FC Barcelona, and also fell 4-3 to Barcelona in a recent La Liga Clasico, significantly dimming their league title hopes.
Ancelotti`s pedigree is undeniable; he is recognized as one of football`s most decorated managers. His illustrious career spans successful spells in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and England, amassing 31 major trophies. Notably, he is the only coach to have won league titles across all five major European leagues and holds records for the most Champions League titles (five) and UEFA Super Cup titles (five) as a coach.
Taking charge of Brazil, the only nation to have qualified for every World Cup, presents a unique opportunity for Ancelotti to potentially add a major international trophy to his unparalleled resume, further solidifying his place as one of the most influential figures in soccer history.
